Fw: "open building"

[Barbara McGinn <griffypup@MINDSPRING.COM>]

----- Original Message -----
From: Barbara McGinn <griffypup@mindspring.com>
To: Pat Leggate <pleggate@HCBE.NET>
Sent: Friday, November 03, 2000 5:39 PM
Subject: Re: "open building"


> Dear Pat,
>     I have worked in an open building since 1977.  Originally there were
no
> partitions within quads (grade level large areas) but now there are four
> partitions in each quad, giving each class a separate area.  The
partitions
> (because of an archaic heating/cooling system) only reach 2/3 to the
ceiling
> but the visual distraction, if not the noise, is greatly reduced.  The
media
> center sits in the middle surrounded by these quads.  It is a gigantic
area
> which I absolutely love, room for over 100 with no problem and room for a
> mini-computer lab for research and the computer projects I do with kids.
I
> find that my physical position in the center of things greatly enhances my
> "importance" to instruction etc. and lends itself very well to
> flexible-scheduling because I can be working with a group while other
things
> are going on.  I guess I'm used to the noise and find that when the room
is
> empty (literally hardly ever) I start going stir-crazy.  I am "on display"
> throughout the day, of course ,but I'm used to that too and find it is its
> own public relations tool.  One thing that does help is that the quads
have
> doors leading to the media center which are hardly ever closed but can be
if
> parties are going on or noisy activities are going on in the media center.
> We are a National  Blue Ribbon school and I am convinced that our school
is
> a great one because of the "forced cooperation" of the entire staff.
Right
> now we only have about 500 kids but we have been up to 650 some years.
>     Guess what I'm saying is that I love it this way.  I have to admit
that
> my previous school was also open-space although I was a classroom teacher
> many years ago in a school with closed classrooms.  I much prefer it this
> way.  Almost forgot, Oak Hill is an elementary school, grades K-5.
>
>     Just my two cents.
>
> Barbara McGinn,Media Specialist
> Oak Hill Elem.
> Severna Park, Maryland   griffypup@mindspring.com
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Pat Leggate <pleggate@HCBE.NET>
> To: <LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>
> Sent: Friday, November 03, 2000 9:21 AM
> Subject: "open building"
>
>
> > I worked in an open building in the early 70's.  It was a living hell.
> > I had thought that this idea had died a natural death since they are not
> > building this type of building now.  Encourage the powers that be to
> > develop a "fall back" plan for when they decide to put up some walls.
> > (This should be the second day after the school opens)
> >
> > I hope this helps.
> >
> > Pat Leggate
> >
> > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=
> > All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law.
> > To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST), send email to:
> > listserv@listserv.syr.edu   In the message write EITHER:
> > 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST
> > 4) SET LM_NET MAIL  * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv.
> > For LM_NET Help see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
> > Archives: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.html
> >  See also EL-Announce for announcements from library media vendors:
> >     http://www.mindspring.com/~el-announce/
> > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=
>

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=
All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law.
To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST), send email to:
listserv@listserv.syr.edu   In the message write EITHER:
1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST
4) SET LM_NET MAIL  * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv.
For LM_NET Help see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
Archives: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.html
 See also EL-Announce for announcements from library media vendors:
    http://www.mindspring.com/~el-announce/
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=